Israel detains Hamas minister

Thursday, April 06, 2006 |

Israel’s internal security police, the Shin Bet, detained Hamas’ Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Khaled Abu Arafa, on Thursday morning. Officials took him in for questioning as he was enroute to Azariya, an Arab East Jerusalem town located between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim, where he plans to open his office. Security officials arrested Abu Arafa because he has an Israeli identity card. It is forbidden for Israelis to enter the West Bank. One Israeli Army official also said that due to Hamas’ refusal to recognize Israel and to continue its terrorist activities they have the right to target Hamas Palestinian leadership. Abu Arafa, born in 1961, is a Jerusalem resident and has been detained several times on suspicion of involvement with Hamas’ military wing.

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